Tension device.



No. 718,509. PATBNTED JAN. 13, 1903;

T. U. ORNDORPF.

TENSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILBi) MAR. 13, 1899.

N0 MODEL.

Hill

STATES PATENT GFFICE'.

TENSION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,509, dated January 13, 1903. Application filed March 13,1899. Serial No. 708,814. (No model.)

T0 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. ORNDORFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tension Devices, of which the followingis a specification, accompanied by drawings, forming a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 represents a front view of a weaving-shuttle adapted to be employed in a tapeloom and containing atension device embodying my invention, whereby tension is applied to the weft-thread as it is delivered from the shuttle. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, shown in sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged and detached view of the friction-roller which bears upon the weft-thread as it is delivered from the shuttle, together with the device for applying pressure thereto; and Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 4 4, Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar reference-letters refer to similar parts in the different views.

My present invention relates to a tension device designed to impart a tension to a strand of thread or yarn, and particularly to the weft-thread of a weaving-shuttle as it is delivered from the shuttle in the process of weaving; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the annexed claims.

The tension device embodying my invention, as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is represented as applied to that form of a weaving-shuttle which is adapted for use in a tape or narrowfabric loom; but it may be applied to other forms of weaving-shuttles, such modifications in construction and arrangement of parts as are necessary thereto being within the province of'a skilled mechanic.

Referringto the accompanying drawings, A denotes the body of the shuttle, provided with the usual grooves A A by which it is adapted to run in the way or track of the lathe in the usual manner.

B denotes the forwardly-projecting flange, forming a platform upon which my improved tension device in the present instance is mounted.

C denotes a hollow cop held in position by I a flexible strap D, extending across the cop and attached at its end to the body of the shuttle. The weft-thread E is withdrawn from the inside of the cop through a staple F, placed at one end of the shuttle, and from the staple F through a staple F, near the center of the flange B, by which the direction of the weftthread is changed. From the staple F the weft-thread passes through a staple F placed at the center of the front edge of the flange B and forming an eye through which the weftthread is delivered, thereby controlling the weft-thread and holding it beneath the pressure-roll. Between the staples F and F the weft-thread is pressed against the upper surface of the platform B by the pressure-roller G, journaled in a frame G, which is attached to the free end of a flexible blade-spring H, having its opposite end attached by a screw I to the flange B of the shuttle.

Attached to the flange B of the shuttle, preferably with the screw I, is a blade-spring J, having its free end resting upon the top of the free end of the blade-spring H and over the pressure-roll G.

An adj usting-screw K, passing through the blade-springs H and J, with its head K hearing upon the upper surface of the bladespring J, is screwed into the flange B, so that the pressure of the roll G upon the weft-thread may be varied by releasing or tightening the adjusting-screw K. As the weft is drawn from the shuttle it passes beneath the roll G and in frictional contact with the plane upper surface of the flange B, and any knots or bunches in the thread cause the roll G to be lifted against the tension of the springs H and J.

The use of the blade-springHaffords aconvenient method of suspending the roll-frame G, so it will be capable of a slight vertical movement; but the pressure applied to hold the roll against the weft-thread is exerted through the blade-spring J by means of its free end J bearing directly above the center of the roller-frame G.

The Weft-threadE is drawn from the shuttle between and in contact with a plane fixed surface and a circular rotating surface with means for imparting the pressure of the rotating surface upon the weft-thread capable of delicate adjustment whereby an efiective frictional resistance to the motion of the weft-thread is obtained with a comparatively slight pressure thereon. The weft-thread passes beneath the pressure roll G in a straight line without any vertical movement of the roll except to allow the passage of knots and bunches in the yarn, and these pass beneath the roll without a material increase in the tension of the weft owing to the comparatively light pressure exerted by the spring J to produce the requisite tension upon the weft-thread.

It has been customary, so far asI am aware, in that class of tension devices in which a yielding roll is employed to pinch the thread between the roll and an unyielding surface that the thread or strand of yarn is conducted between the roll and unyielding surface in such a manner that the increase of the tension of the thread has a tendency to lift the roll from the unyielding surface, and thereby reduce the frictional resistance to the movement of the thread. In my improved tension device the yielding pressure applied to the roll is in a line substantially at right angles to the surface of the platform, While the thread is conducted in a line parallel with the surface of the platform, so that anyincrease in the tension of the thread will be exerted in a line tangential to the periphery of the roll and will not therefore have a tendency to lift the roll. The roll in my device is not lifted by the tension of the thread, but only by an increase in the size of the thread.

pressure to the roll, substantially as described.

2. In a tension device the combination with a platform, of means for conducting the thread over said platform in a straight line parallel with its surface, a roll arranged to bear against the thread as it lies on the platform, and means for applying a yielding pressure to said roll in a line at right angles to the surface of said platform, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the platform 13, guides by which the weft is conducted over said platform as it is withdrawn from the bobbin, a roll journaled in a frame and arranged to press the weft against said platform, a blade-spring by which said roll-frame is connected with the fixed part of the shuttle, a spring with its tension applied to press the roll upon the weft and an adjusting-screw by which the pressure is varied, substantially as described.

Dated this 18th day of February, 1899.

THOMAS C. ORNDORFF. Witnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, ELIZABETH GRAY. 

